Combination table and bed.



M. D. MIESNER.

comsmmou TABLE AND BED.

APPLICATION HUID JULY H, 19I6.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

l N V E N TO R Marilhfl M85116).

WITNESSES ATTORNEY M. D. MIESNER.

COMBINATION TABLE AND BED.

APPLICATION men JULY 11. 1916.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918 3 SHEETS' SHEET 2.

l INVENTOR Martin 17. Ml 681281.

ATTORNEY M. D. MIESNER.

COMBINATION TABLE AND BED.

APPLICATION FILED IULY n. I916- Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR Marfzzz fljlfwsizer WITNESSES ATTORNEY MARTIN D. MIESNER, 0FWITTENBERG, MISSOURI.

COMBINATION TABLE AN D BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6.191s.

Application filed July 11, 1918. Serial No. 108,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN D. MIEsNEn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wittenberg, in the county of Perry and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Tablesand Beds, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to an improvement in a combination table and bed,and more particularly to the manner in which the parts of the table areconnected together to permitthe desired opening and closing of the samein adapting the device for use as a bed and also for use as a table,together with the means by which the bed structure is supported when thedevice is adjusted to be used as a bed.

An object of my invention is to provide means by which when the tabletop is closed down it will be automatically swung to a partly openrelation as the device is to be used as a bed, and when the bed is bemgused and it is desired to readjust the parts to form a table, the tabletop will be swung to a partly closed relation, it being of courseunderstood that means is provided to hold the parts in the closedrelation and again in the full extended relation as when the device isto be used as a bed.

A further object is to construct parts of the device in such a mannerthat the web spring structure of the bed is permitted to be folded tocome within the upper portion of the table as the top is closed down sothat the device may be used as a table, and the spring structure will beextended after the top of the table is raised to form the headextension.

Yet another object is to so arrange the support for the extensible footportion of the spring structure that as the parts are brought to thefolded relation this support will be inclosed within the upper portionof the table and as the support is opened to occupy the supportingrelation a foot extension will be carried out to give greater length tothe spring structure.

lVith the above and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construct-ion and combinations of parts whichwill be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and thenmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the table top raised and thespring structure for the bed in the extended and operative relation.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the tablestructure with the parts thereof shown in substantially the approxlmaterelation to which they will be thrown automatically upon release of themeans by which the table top is held down in the closed relation or themeans by which this top is held in a relation to permit use of thedevice as a bed, the relation of the parts as shown in Fig. 1 beingindicated by the dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the top closedand the parts of the structure in the folded relation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view to show the manner of connecting andoperating the foot extension.

The supporting structure comprises the ends 1 and 2 which comprise thelegs 3 having cross members 4 secured therebetween, and thelongitudinally extending frame members 5 are connected between the endframe members 1 and 2 to connect the structure in a rigid frame.

The opposed legs of each pair are cut away at their upper ends to formthe blocks 6 and 7, which are hinged as indicated at 8 so that they canbe swung up to form substantially continuations of the posts or legs 3,as is shown in Fig. 3, or are capable of swinging movement to a loweredposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A table top 9 is connected with theblocks 6 of each of the end members 1 and 2, and thus a substantiallyL-shaped formation is provided as is better shown in Fig. 2, whichstructure portion is permitted to have, swinging movement around thehinged mounting at 8 so that it can be either closed to the relationshown in Fig. 3 or opened to the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 1. Rim extensions 10 and 11 are provided at each end of the top 9and a like extension 12 is provided on the free edge, the space betweenthe blocks 6 being filled in by a board or rim extension 13, and the endmembers 1 and 2 being provided with filler boards 14 and 15 which formsubstantially continuations of the rim portions 10 and 11 at the ends ofthe frame structure and between the upper ends of the posts or legs 3.The blocks 7 have a board or rim member 16 connected therebetween sothat these blocks are held to swing together and when brought to theinterfitted relation with the shaped upper ends of the posts 3 with thetop 9 closed down, this rim member 16 with the like members 13, 14 and15 will form a substantially box-like inclosed space in the upperportion of the frame and below the to 9.

ia latch lever 17 having the end thereof hooked is pivotally mounted onthe member 16 and a spring 18 is provided to engage beneath the free endthereof to normally force this latch lever into spring held engagementwith the latch hook 19 carried by the rim port-ion 12 of the top 9, andthus as the top is lowered and the latch lever 17 engages with the latchhook 19 to be held under the spring tension, the top will be not onlybrought down against the postin a proper fitting relation, but the partswill be retained in this position a ainst casual displacement and willbe so he d until the latch lever 17 is manually released against thetension of the spring 18. When the parts are brought to the foldedposition as shown in Fig. 3, the only visible evidence of the fact thata fold-- in'g table is provided is the fact that the blocks 6 and 7 arecut from the tops of the posts 3, and by the mounting of a scrolledornament on the blocks 6 and 7 or on the posts 3 adjacent to the cutaway portions thereof, this cutting of the posts can be very effectuallydisguised and then the evidence of the folding mounting of the partswill be carried only by the hinges, it however being understood thatthese can of course be very well disguised by being finished to matchthe finish of the wood work of the table, and also perhaps by being setinto the blocks and the posts so that the butts will be only partlyvisible. These features of decoration which are intended to disguise thetrue nature of the table so that it can be used as an ordinary libraryor other table will of course fall witliin the perview of themanufacturer, and for this reason these features are not here shown andare not discussed at great length.

The spring frame of the bed structure is made up preferably of angleiron members, and the members 20 and 21 are connected rigidly on theinner sides of the end members 1 and 2, so that they will be confinedand inclosed within the space covered by the rim port-ions 14 and 15 ofthese end members. Uprights 22 are secured on the inner sides of the rimmembers 14 and 15 adjacent to the ends connected with the posts on whichthe blocks 6 are hingedly mounted. and the levers 23 and 24 arepivotally mounted as at 25 on these upright members 22, and have pins 26carried by their free outer ends to be received and slide in the slottedguides 27 secured on the rim members 10 and 11. The shortened ends ofthe levers 23 and 24 are pivotally connected with the bars 28 which areextended on each side of this pivotal mounting, and the coil springs 29,of which I have shown two mounted on each end of the bars 28 areconnected at their free ends with the side members 20 and 21 of thespring supporting frame. By this arrangement of the parts, the drawingtension exerted upon the bars 28 is made quite severe due to the factthat the four springs connected with each bar are working practicallytogether and consequently the tendency of the springs is to swing thelevers 23 and 24 around a pivotal mounting at 25 on the upright 22 sothat the pins 26 thereof will be moved along the slots of the guideways27 to permit these levers 23 and 24 to occupy a vertically uprightposition as shown in Fig. 2 and in consequence the blocks 6 and the topmember 9 will be swung around the mounting on the hinges 8 to be raisedto an intermediate position in accordance with the showing on Fig. 2.Notches 30 are provided in the members 27 at one side of the slottedopenings thereof and the pins 26 are received in these notches 30 whenthe top 9 has been swung to the full open relation as indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 2, in which fitting of the parts, the levers 23 and24 will be held against return swinging movement under the tension ofthe springs'29 and consequently the top portion will be permitted toremain in the open relation and will be supported against furtherswinging movement by the bracing effects of the rods 23 and 24.

A substantially U shaped end spring frame member 31 has the inwardlybent ends thereof connected with the spring frame members 20 and 21 bythe link members 32, and the supporting links 33 and 34 are connectedwith the levers 23 and 24 and at their other ends are connected with theU- shaped spring frame member 31 at substantially the corners thereof.Stop rests 35 are provided on the frame links 32, and when the table topis brought to the full open relation, these stop rests engage againstthe) blocks 6 and support the links againstfalling at their outer ends,this supporting of the frame links 32 and the connection of the framemember 31 with the levers 23 and 24 through the medium of the supportinglinks 33 and 34 acting to give the proper support to the spring frameextension structure.

A substantially U-shaped spring frame member 36 is connected by theframe links 37 and 38 with the side spring frame members 20 and 21, andis thus capable of being foided over into the confines of the rimstructure as formed in conjunction with the frame and the top of thetable. The inwardly bent ends of the U-Shaped spring frame member 36 areprovided with the elongated slots 39 and links 40 are connected with theblocks 7 and at their free ends through these elongated slots 39 so thatas the member 36 is extended or folded, the blocks 7 and the rim member16 mounted therebetween will be carried and supported in the opened orclosed relation. The posts 3 adjacent to which the links 37 and 38 arepivotally connected with the side spring frame members, 20 and 21 arenotched out and as the frame structure at the foot is opened, theselinks 37 and 38 will engage with portions of the post and will be heldagainst excessive downward swinging movement. The supporting legs 41 and42 are pivotally mounted on the sides of the U- shaped frame member 36adjacent to the corners thereof, and thus when the member 36 isextended, these legs 41 and 42 may be swung down to rest upon the flooror other surface on which the legs or posts 3 of the table are supportedand consequently the foot portion of the spring frame will be held inthe proper extent with respect to the remaining portions of the same. Aswill be seen by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings, a foot extension 43is pivoted on the U- shaped member 36 by means of the substantially bellcrank shaped or L shaped end portions 44, and these L-shaped portions 44have teeth formed as indicated at 45 adjacent to the pivotal mountingthereof, which teeth mesh with the teeth 46 of the legs 41 and 42. Byproviding the teeth at 45 and 46 and placing the same in mesh as thefoot extension portion 43 is opened, both legs 41 and 42 will be swungto the operative relation, or as either of the legs is swung to thesupporting position the remaining leg will be opened and simultaneouslythe foot extension will be brought to the operative relation. Somemeans, as for instance the stop lugs 47 might be provided to hold thefoot extension 43 against excessive swinging movement, and in this waythe legs 41 and 42 will also be held against too great outward spread.

The bed spring structure may comprise the wire mesh as indicated at 48which may be connected directly with the side spring frame members 20and 21, the end spring frame members 31 and 36, and the links 32, 37 and38, to have a certain measure of flexibility embodied within itsstructure or may be joined with this spring frame structure as describedby the use of springs, or the webbing or mesh work of the springs may beconnected with only certain of the frame members, as for instance themembers 20, 21, 31 and 36, however, as this connection of the webbing ormesh structure of the springs with the frame does not constitute anessential part of my invention I have not herein disclosed any specificconstruction.

In the use of the structure as a table, the top 9 will be folded over inthe relation shown in Fig. 3, and the latch lever 17 is engaged with thelatch hook 19 which holds the top down against the raising force exertedby the springs 29, and at the same time the swinging of the lever 23 tooccupy a substantially horizontal position causes raising of the bars 28and thus places a greater tension upon the springs :29. The latch lever17 will hold the parts in this closed relation against casualdisplacement or against displacement of the reaction of the springs .29,and thus the structure may be used as a table, and then when it isdesired to open'the parts and extendthe spring structure so that thedevice may'be used as a bed, the latch lever 17 may be released byreaching beneath the rim member 16 and manually depressing the free endof the latch lever 17 against the tension of the spring 18 which willdisengage the hook end thereof from the latch hook it) and consequentlythe top 9 will then be free and will be swung up to the position shownin Fig. 2 through the drawing tension exerted by the springs 29 on thelevers 23 and 24. The top 9 is then grasped and given still furthermovement until the pins 26 are engaged in the notches 30 of the members27 and in this relation the parts will be held until manually released.The link portions 32 are supported by the stop rests 35 in theirengagement against the upper inner edges of the blocks 6 and the springframe member 31 is supported by these links and also by the supportinglinks 33 and 34. The foot member 36 of the spring frame is then graspedand swung outwardly and at the same time the extension portion 43 may beswung over to be received against the stops 47 and the supporting legs41 and 42 will be brought to the proper supporting rela tion, theabutment of the llllks 37 and 38 against the portion of the framestructure acting to hold these links against excessive downward swingingmovement and the connection of the ends of the frame members 36 with thefree ends of the links 37 and 5-18 and with the legs 41 and 42 giving afull support to this member 36. \Vhen the table is to be again folded,the frame member 36 may be swung upwardly and inwardlv to carry thelinks 37 and 38 therewith and consequently the rim member 16 will beraised through the carrying of the same by the links 40 which arereceived in the slots 39 of the member 36, and swinging movement of theextension foot member 43 will cause both of the legs 41 and 42 to befolded down into proximity with the member 36, the pins 26 may be thendisengaged from the notches 3t) and in consequence the pins 26 will thenbe free to move along in theslotted guides 27 and the tension exerted bythe springs 29 will act to elevate the levers 23 and 2f to thevertically upright relation shown in Fig. 2, from which position the top9 may be again folded down so that the latch hook 19 will be engaged bythe latch lever 17 and the parts will be again closed to and held in therelation that the device may be used as a table without evidences of thebed structure other than those as above set forth. While I have notherein set forth the relation which would be occupied by the mattress,blankets, etc., comprising the covering for the springs, it will beapparent by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings that a sufficient spaceis left within the confines of the several spring members that the bedclothing can be left on the spring as the structure is folded and wouldoccupy substantially the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig.3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a bed structurewhich is embodied entirely within a table of substantially standardproportion, and in which the spring supporting structure is arranged tobe capable of extension as the table is uncovered or the top is swungopen, this top being likewise mounted to permit the desired extension,and further it will be noted that the movement of the parts in eitherdirection is substantially automatic when the securing means for holdingthe bed structure in the extended relation is released, the operation ofswinging the legs 41 and 42 being also somewhat automaticallyaccomplished by the swinging of the foot extension l3 to the operativerelation.

While I have herein shown and described only one specific form of thestructure, it will be understood that the design of the table might bevaried in a great variety of ways to match up with various styles of interior finish or furniture, that other forms of securing means forholding the parts in each of the operative relations might be adopted,and that other changes and modifications might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do notwish to be limited to the exact disclosure but only to such points asmay be set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a table having the top thereof hingedly connectedto be capable of opening and closing movement, a bed bottom foldablymounted in conjunction with the table structure to have portions thereofmoved by the swinging of the table top, and means to normally exerttension to swing the table top to an intermediate position between theopened and closed positions thereof.

2. A combination table and bed comprising a frame structure having atable top hingedly mounted thereon, a bed bottom foldably mounted on theframe to be capable of extension to form a bed spring and to be foldedwithin the confines of the table so that the top can be closed, leversmounted on the ends of the frame structure andhaving sliding connectionwith the top portion, springs by which force is exerted upon the leversto normally resiliently urge the same to move to a position to raise thetable top, and supporting links connected with the levers and withportions of the bed bottom structure so that upon swinging movement ofthe levers to raise the top the connected portions of the bed bottom areextended,

3. A combination table and bed comprising a frame structure having atable top hingedly mounted thereon, a spring frame structure made up ofaplurality of side pieces and having cross pieces at the ends thereoffoldably mounted on the frame, bed spring structure associated with thefoldable frame and the parts being so mounted that when folded they areinclosed within the confines of the table so that the top can be closed,levers mounted on the ends of the frame structure to be capable ofrocking movement, a sliding connection between one end of each of saidlevers and the table top, springs connected with the remaining end ofeach lQVQI and having connection with fixed portions of the structure tothus normally resiliently urge the levers to an upright relation, andlinks connected with the levers and with portions of the spring framestructure in such a manner that as the table top is raised by thesprings connected therewith the frame will be extended.

4. A combination table and bed comprising a frame structure havingsupporting posts and with portions of the posts cut away to form blocks,hinges connecting said blocks to be swung into and out of fittedrelations with the post, a top connected with the blocks at one side ofsaid frame, to be capable of swinging movement therewith and arranged tobe swung to an open relation in which it is extended from the framestructure through the hinged mounting of the blocks thereon, a springframe made to have a plurality of side sections to permit foldingthereof, portions of the spring frame being attached to the supportingframe, a 7

connection from said hingedly mounted top to the end portion of thespring frame mounted adjacent thereto, and means connected with theremaining end of the spring frame to support the same in an operativerelation.

5. A combination table and bed comprising a frame structure havingsupporting posts and with portions of the posts cut away to form blocks,hinges connecting said blocks to be swung into and out of fittedrelations with the post, a top connected with the blocks at one side ofsaid frame to be capable of swinging movement therewith and arranged tobe swung to an open relation in which it is extended from the framestructure through the hinged mountin of the blocks thereon, a springframe 111M e to have a plurality of side sections to permit foldingthereof, portions of the spring frame being attached to the supportingframe, a connection from said hingedly mounted top to the end portion ofthe spring frame mounted adjacent thereto, means connected with theremaining end of the spring frame to support the same in an operativerelation, and means by which the parts are supported in the open and inthe closed positions.

6. A combination table and bed comprising a frame structure havingsupporting posts and with portions of the posts cut away to form blocks,hinges connecting said blocks to be swung into and out of fittedrelations with the post, a top connected with the blocks at one side ofsaid frame to be capable of swinging mmement therewith and arranged tobe swul which it is extendetf from the frame structure through thehinged mounting of the blocks thereon, a spring frame made to have aplurality of side sections to permit folding thereof. portions of thesprin frame being attached to the supporting mine, a connection fromsaid hingedly mounted top to the end portion of the spring frame mountedadjacent thereto, means connected with the remaining end of the springframe to support the same in an operative relation, means by which thetable top is secured in a closed position, and means by which the top isswung to an open position upon release of said holding means.

In, testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN D. MIESNER. Witnesses 2 CHARLES SPIER, O. J. HEMMANN.

Copies: of thn: patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1!. G."

1? to an open relation in-

